Through strong and collaborative partnerships with community agencies, local manufacturing and a leading research university, Lafayette Sunnyside Intermediate School has become a leading STEM school in west central Indiana.

Our STEM teachers complete an intense week of SLED (Science Learning through Engineering Design) training to integrate their Math and Science curriculum. The goal of the SLED partnership is to improve science learning in grades 3-6 through the integration of an engineering design-based approach to science learning in the targeted grades. The project will achieve this goal by preparing teachers and prospective teachers to utilize engineering design as a way to teach inquiry-based science in the classroom, adapting and creating curricular materials that support the teaching of elementary science through design, and gathering evidence of outcomes that contributes to a better understanding of how teachers teach using design and how students learn science through design-based activities.

Sunnyside STEM and Humanities teachers and the Purdue University EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) team is designing a working/interactive torch and Humanities curriculum as part of the 2016 Indiana Bicentennial. The EPICS Torch team and Sunnyside students have been working together in the design of the "student torch" as well as developing a curriculum to tie the history of Indiana to the torch itself. Both the smaller torch and the curriculum will be shared with the 91 other counties in the state who choose to participate.

The Fall of 2015 brought yet another STEM induced activity for our students in the form of an after-school activity called TECHFIT. The TECHFITproject demonstrates the impact information technology has on our world by inspiring the next generation of innovators to design and implement technology-based fitness games that will get people moving and having fun while simultaneously and positively improving their health. A team of Sunnyside teachers and students, working with the Purdue TECHFIT, are currently designing an interactive video game system that encourages physical activity and team work. The Sunnyside TECHFIT team will compete against other participating schools from across the U.S. ​
In addition to our STEM curriculum and expanding programs for students, Sunnyside is also home to an Indiana Regional Science Fair Championship Team and an award winning FIRST Robotics program.

Check out our video collection showcasing how STEM has changed at Sunnyside and a look at some of our Family STEM Nights.